Clothes-line.



L. C. IRVI'N.

CLOTHES LINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY IQ, 191a.

Patented J an. 30, 1917.

Quorum mr mwms PETERS 00., PuuymLlYHO wasnmc mN. u c.

LUTHER C. IRVIN, OF VTARWICK, HES-'1 VIRGINIA.

CLOTHES-LINE.

Application filed July 10, 1916.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER G. IRVIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at ll arwiok, in the county of Pocahontas and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Lines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a clothes line, and has for its primary object to provide a line of this character wherein clothes can be firmly fastened thereon without the aid of clothes pins or other removable fasteners of any kind and will freely release the clothes when it is desired to remove them.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a line of this character wherein the same is made up of a plurality of flexibly connected links, each being formed with a loop having a catch finger swingingly connected to each loop, which serves to firmly grip the clothes for the fastening of the same upon the line when suspended, the line being readily foldable when removed from its support so that it can be stored in the least possible space when not in use and such removal of the line at will increases the longevity thereof and avoids the rusting or the accumulation of foreign matter thereon and also when the clothes are hung thereon the use of the line there is no possibility of the accidental dropping of the clothes or the detachment thereof when subjected to high winds.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a line of this character wherein the weight of the articles will not cause the accidental opening of the fastening medium for the freeing of the articles upon the line and thereby rendering it nearly impossible for the articles to become detached therefrom other than by manual manipulation of the fingers for their removal when taking the clothes from the line, which can be accomplished with des atch.

. A. still further object of the invention is the provision of a line of this character wherein the same can be taken down and folded up so that it may be put away when not needed. thereby saving the line from weather, dust, dirt, etc., and thus in this manner increasing the durability of the same.

A still further obiect of the invention is the provision of a line of' this character which is extremelv simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in use,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3%), H 117.

Serial No. 108,415.

accordance with the invention; Fig. :2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the finger in open position; Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the finger in closed position for clamping an article.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the clothes line comprises a plurality of links 5, each made from a single length of relatively stiff or rigid wire bent at opposite ends to form terminal eyes 6 which are closed, and these eyes adjacent to each other are loosely connected together to give continuity to the line, which may be of any required length.

The line is fastened at its ends to a suitable support or supports and the length thereof can be varied by the freeing of any number of end links from the support or supports for the purpose of swinging the line and the remaining links of the length can be stretched taut and hung in any suitable manner.

Each link 5 has bent therefrom adjacent to the eves 6 at opposite ends suspended loops 7 which are formed from the single length of wire constituting the link, and said loops possess the required rigidity for the hanging of clothes in a manner presently de scribed. Each loop 7 in the formation thereof is a departure from the eye 6 at the point of the twist 8 and the closed end of the loop is expanded as at 9, while the side portions of the loop diverge upwardly toward the link for the secure fastening of clothes or other like articles thereby, as will be hereinafter explained.

Swingingly connected to the expanded end 8 of each loop 7 is a clip or fastener which comprises a shank 10 formed .at one end with an eye 11 loosel engaging the expanded end 8 of said loop 7, While at the opposite end of the shank 10 is an elongated yoke 12 which is disposed at an angle to the shank 10 and loosely embraces the link 5, while the upper stretch of said yoke 12 frictionally engages with the link and by reason of the angular disposition of the yoke the fastener Will be securely held in open or closed position relative to the loop 7 and when in closed position firmly grips an article of clothing or the like between the shank l0 and the loop 7 for the fastening of the same upon the line.

The fastener is of hook formation and forms a clamping finger, as Will be clearly apparent, and will securely fasten the article so as to avoid any possible chance of the disengagement of the article from the line whensubjected to high Wind and upon opening the fastener the said article can be readily removed. The line, when not in use,

can be readily folded in compact form so that it can be stored in the least possible space.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of use of the herein described clothes line Will be readily apparent and, therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7

A clothes line of the character described comprising a plurality of links, each made from a single length of relatively stiff Wire, eye terminals formed at the ends of the link, with the eyes of adjacent links loosely connected to each other, loops bent from each link, and swinging fasteners carried by the loops and having angularly disposed yokes engaged with the link and frictionally held in closed or open position.

In testimony whereof I affix iny signature.

LUTHER C. IRVIN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents .each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washingtomfl. G. 

